The City of Johannesburg is currently facing significant disruptions to its waste management services due to a strike by casual workers of Pikitup. The strike has impacted various parts of the City, including Norwood, Marlboro, Waterval, Selby, Randburg, Midrand, and Diepsloot. The unrest stems from the expiration of contracts for casual workers at Pikitup, who are demanding permanent employment.
In December 2023, Pikitup advertised 300 general worker positions and appointed an external recruitment agency to manage the process. The recruitment was conducted transparently, with organised labour kept informed throughout. Despite this, the deployment of new recruits last week sparked protests from current workers who felt they were unfairly overlooked.
The protests have escalated, with some workers resorting to destructive actions such as burning tires outside depots, severely disrupting waste collection services. Pikitup Management is actively engaging with the protesting workers to find a resolution and ensure the safety of all employees. Enhanced security measures have been implemented to enable staff to continue their duties, and a comprehensive recovery plan has been developed to address the waste collection backlog.
In response to the disruptions, Pikitup has obtained a court interdict against the striking workers to safeguard employees and ensure the continuity of waste management services.
The interdict prohibits the protesters from:
• Blocking depot entrances.
• Disrupting services to the City of Johannesburg.
• Intimidating or threatening Pikitup employees.
• Locking depot gates.
• Preventing waste collection trucks from operating.
• Interfering with the movement of staff and trucks.
City Manager Floyd Brink emphasised that while the right to protest is respected, it must be exercised within the law and without damaging municipal assets. An investigation into the recruitment process at Pikitup has been initiated to address any allegations of misconduct, with an independent investigator set to conclude the investigation in the coming weeks.
“We are aware of the allegations surrounding the recruitment process at Pikitup. I have directed an investigation to uncover the truth. If wrongdoing is found, action will be taken against all implicated officials. The MD has committed that the procurement of an independent investigator will be concluded to conduct an investigation, which is expected to be concluded in the coming weeks,” said Brink.
To mitigate the impact of the strike, the following resources have been deployed across Johannesburg:
• Inner City: 21 Compactors for Selby, 12 Tipper Trucks, 3 Bob Cats, 3 Mechanical Sweepers, 2 TLB’s and intensified cleaning campaigns.
• Marlboro: 16 Compactors, 8 Tipper Trucks, 2 Bob cats, 1 Mechanical sweeper and 2 TLB’s.
• Randburg: 16 Compactors, 8 Tipper Trucks, 2 Bob cats, 1 Mechanical sweeper and 2 TLB’s.
• Midrand: 16 Compactors, 8 Tipper Trucks, 2 Bob cats, 1 Mechanical sweeper and 2 TLB’s.
• Norwood: 16 Compactors, 8 Tipper Trucks, 2 Bob cats, 1 Mechanical sweeper and 2 TLB’s.
• Roodepoort: 16 Compactors, 8 Tipper Trucks, 2 Bob cats, 1 Mechanical sweeper and 2 TLB’s.
• Overall: 101 Compactors, 52 Tipper Trucks, 13 Bob cats, 8 Mechanical sweeper and 12 TLB’s.
22/05/2024
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